The minimum time is three academic years of full-time study, which would mean 3-4 courses in each fall and spring semester in three years. Typically, these days most students are working adults who find it difficult to maintain a full-time course schedule. Most students complete the program in four years but some take longer depending on the number of courses taken per semester. Remember that in addition to class time, graduate courses require a significant commitment to reading and other coursework beyond the hours in the classroom.